Ear clip having adjustable leaf spring



Nov. 24, 1964 w. A. CARROLL 3,158,011

EAR cu? HAVING ADJUSTABLE LEAF SPRING 2/ r I] 32 /0 Y 3/ 30 F I 3 ilNVENTOR WILLIAM ANTHONY CARROLL ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,13,l11 EAR CH? HAVHNG ADHUSTABLE LEAF SiRiNfi Wiliiam Anthony Carroil, Warwick, Kl, assignor to The Lorne (Iompany, End, a corporation of isiand Filed Mar. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 263,9h6 1 Cl. 63-14) This invention relates to an ear ornament of the clip type for engaging the lobe of the ear.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an adjustable pressure on the ear lobe so that the pressure may be varied for the comfort of the wearer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which may be adjusted while in position on the ear so that the tension thereof may be varied in wearing position.

Another object of the invention is to provide the adjusting means of sufiicient size so that when adjustment is made, it may be easily grasped between the thumb and first finger of the hand.

Another object of the invention is to provide clamping jaws each of which will have a rather large engaging surface so that the pressure on the ear may be distributed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which may be made relatively inexpensively and yet one which will perform its function in an eficient and satisfactory manner.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevation illustrating the device as in position on the ear of the wearer with an ornament shown in broken lines;

FIG. 2. is a sectional view on a larger scale illustrating the device in gripping position; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating the device in open position.

In proceeding with this invention, I provide a body member to which an ornament may be attached, and I have pivoted to the body member a jaw member which will carry a resilient. arm with such an arrangement that the resilient arm may be moved toward and from the jaw member so that the resilient arm may vary its pressure upon the body member for moving it toward and from a position to apply greater spring pressure between the members, this adjustment being by a screw having a large head which may be easily grasped for accomplishing the result.

With reference to the drawings, 10 designates generally a J-shape body member having a long leg 11 which may mount an ornament 12 such as a pearl in a shallow dish shaped portion 13 thereof, this portion providing on its convex surface 14 an area contacting the lobe of the ear 15.

This J-shaped body member also carries a short leg 16 which is formed by the U-shape bend at the lower portion of the body member. This J-shaped leg will have laterally extending trunnions 17 from both sides thereof to act as a means of hinging the jaw member designated generally 18 and which comprises a hinged portion 19 equipped with ears 20 having openings 21 to receive the trunnions 17 on the short leg of the J-shape body memher so as to hingedly relate it to the members. This portion 19 is formed as one part of an enlarged head 22 which is bent somewhat on' the arc of a sphere with the 3,,l58,l1 Faterited Nov. 24, 1964 portion 19 extending from one side thereof, while a laterally extending piece 23 serves to offset a resilient arm 24 toward this hinged portion 19.

This resilient arm 24 is somewhat arcuate and engages the end portion of the short leg 16 of the body member. The engagement, being shown at 25 in FIG. 2, serves as a pressure point to cause the jaw member and body member to move toward each other into closed or clamping position, while when the jaw member is swung to the position shown in FIG. 3, the pressure point will have moved over to location 2 6 which is such that it will tend to swing the two members apart or away from each other. It will, of course, be apparent that at some point in between these two points 25 and 26 will serve as a dead center or a position of the members from which the spring will not urge movement in either direction.

In order to adjust the pressure which may be applied tending to swing the members in one direction or the other depending upon their relative position, I have provided a threaded opening 27 in the resilient arm 24 and an opening 28 free of threads and somewhat larger than the opening 27 in the hinged portion w of the body member, which openings will be in substantial registry. A screw 29 extends freely through the opening 28 and has threaded engagement with the opening 27. This screw is provided with a head 30 having a knurled portion 31. The inner surface 32 of this head will engage the outer surface of the body member or portion 19 thereof. This head is formed of a size greater than the width of the hinged portion 19 so that it will protrude beyond either side thereof and thus may be easily grasped between the thumb and finger. Thus by manipulating the screw 29, the resilient arm 24 may be moved toward or from the hinged portion 19 so that a varying amount of pressure will be applied upon the end portion of the short leg of the J-shape body member, and this adjustment may be made either when the ear ornament is removed from the ear or while the ear ornament is in position on the ear, thus providing a simple yet effective way of providing a grip which may be made comfortable on the lobe of the ear.

I claim:

An ear ornament of the clip type comprising a J-shape body member having a long leg and a short leg, a jaw member, hinged means adjacent the end of the short leg connecting said members, said jaw member carrying a resilient arm engaging the end portion of said short leg and having a threaded openingtherethrough spaced from said hinge, said jaw member having an opening registering with said threaded opening, and a screw having a head and a shank, said head including meansengaging said jaw member and preventing passage of said head through said jaw member opening, said shank passing. freely through said jaw member opening and having threaded engagement with said threaded opening in said resilient arm for adjusting the pressure thereof on said short leg, said jaw member and resilient arm being of one piece of stock,.said piece being folded to form a relatively large ear contacting head from which said jaw member and resilient arm extend.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,967,965 Morehouse etal. July 24,'1934 

